Phillies Nuggets: The latest on Wheeler, Hoskins and Castellanos

As they look to secure their first playoff berth since 2011, the Philadelphia Phillies may soon be getting back arguably their best starting pitcher.

Matt Gelb of The Athletic provided the latest update on Wheeler Friday evening, and it sounds as though last year’s National League Cy Young Award runner-up could return next week:

The news is good on Zack Wheeler. He pitched to hitters this afternoon and simulated two innings. The Phillies are targeting Wednesday against Toronto for his return to rotation. First start will be shortened with a piggyback.

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) September 16, 2022

The Phillies will seemingly have a few options to piggyback with Wheeler when he returns. Zach Eflin is an option currently in the bullpen. And while Bailey Falter has done a tremendous job in Wheeler’s absence, he could be the odd-man-out once Wheeler returns, and him being a lefty may make him an ideal candidate to piggyback with a right-handed starter.

In his third season with the Phillies, Wheeler is 11-7 with a 3.07 ERA and 2.97 FIP across 138 innings.

The Nuggets

• Earlier today on Phillies Nation, we gave out grades for how the four trade deadline pickups that Dave Dombrowski made have performed thus far.
• One of the pickups that has had success for the Phillies is Edmundo Sosa. However, the Phillies placed Sosa on the 10-day injured list Friday afternoon with a right hamstring strain. Interim manager Rob Thomson said it’s likely that it will take more than the 10 days for Sosa to recover, according to Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
• With Sosa out, the Phillies recalled Yairo Muñoz from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Muñoz is starting at third base and hitting eighth in Friday evening’s series opener in Atlanta.
• Alec Bohm is starting at first base against the Braves in place of Rhys Hoskins, who remains day-to-day after being hit by a pitch on his right hand Wednesday in Miami.
• Coffey also notes that Nick Castellanos — who is dealing with a right oblique strain — “felt some stiffness while swinging a few days ago, so they’ve backed off a bit.” It’s unclear when Castellanos, who hasn’t played since Sept. 2, will be back, though he continues to do other baseball activities besides hitting.

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